Kaymer in front as Canizares crumbles

Spaniard Alejandro Canizares went into the water twice on the last three holes tonight to toss away a three-stroke lead at the Alstom French Open in Paris.

One of the most dramatic finishing stretches in European golf - which could be the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup - claimed yet another victim and left defending champion Martin Kaymer in front with a round to go.

First Canizares, whose father Jose-Maria was a Ryder Cup hero at The Belfry in 1989, pushed his tee shot to Le Golf National's short 16th into the lake.

Then, one ahead after a double bogey there, he failed to make the carry with his approach to the 470-yard 18th.

Dropping two more strokes there gave Canizares a two-over-par 73 and on eight-under he now shares second place with England's Steve Webster, one behind Kaymer.

The German, who last year won the French and Scottish Opens back-to-back, needed only a level-par 71 to take over at the top, while Webster shot 70 on a day when the morning's play was washed out.

Irish golfer Damien McGrane is still in contention at seven-under, with Rory McIlroy two shots further back.